A special holiday on September 5 is the Cowberry Loop: history, traditions, omens

Every year on September 5, Orthodox believers honor the memory of the martyr Luppus of Thessalonica, who lived at the turn of the III–IV centuries. In the national calendar, the holiday is called Loup Lingonberry. In 2025, it falls on a Friday. Read about its history, traditions and signs in the Izvestia article.

What is the church holiday on September 5th?

Saint Luppus of Thessalonica lived in the late 3rd – early 4th century and was a devoted servant of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica, the patron saint of Thessalonica. He witnessed the bloody execution of his master by pagans, which took place during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Maximian.

Saying goodbye to his life, Dimitri blessed his servant, who, having soaked his clothes in the blood of the saint and accepted a ring from his hands, preserved these relics as signs of a higher spiritual power. Subsequently, they became the instruments of many miracles and healings in the city of Solun.

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Lupp openly opposed pagan rituals and even destroyed idols in one of the temples, which angered the authorities. Emperor Maximian Galerius, who was in Thessalonica at the time, ordered the arrest and execution of the saint. He did not hide, but voluntarily surrendered himself into the hands of his tormentors.

During his execution, Lupp prayed incessantly, asking God to grant him baptism. And a miracle happened — a cloud gathered over the martyr, from which water spilled. He was symbolically baptized with this rain before his death.

Traditions of the national holiday Loup Lingonberry, celebrated on September 5

By September 5, lingonberries, which have been valued for their healing properties since ancient times, were ripening in Russia. Therefore, the saint's memorial day was named Loup Lingonberry.

Housewives harvested berries for the winter — they cooked jams and compotes, dried, soaked and added to sauerkraut. Lingonberry leaves were used as a medicinal product in infusions and teas. It was believed that they help against inflammation, diseases of the liver, bladder, joints and other ailments.

The ripeness of lingonberries served as an indicator for some agricultural work. So, if the berry was ripe for the feast of St. Lupus, it was possible to start harvesting oats. From that day on, the peasants began to harvest flax, and on this occasion they were sentenced: "Flax is falling on a magnifying glass."

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You should not ride horses or exploit animals on this day.

The ancestors tried to dedicate the holiday to spiritual concentration and household chores, which had to be done without fuss and haste. The housewives were engaged in cleaning, washing, cooking, baking pies, and working in the garden.

What not to do on the holiday of Loup Lingonberry

Like most folk festivals, the Lingonberry Loop had its own strict restrictions. The main prohibition concerned drastic changes in life. On September 5, the ancestors tried not to make fateful decisions regarding work and place of residence, nor should they start important business or make plans for the future — according to beliefs, nothing good could come of it.

What else you can't do on September 5th:

• Complaining about fate can add to the troubles.;
• Using sharp objects is a high risk of injury.;
• to lend money or things to someone, you can "give away" your own luck with them.;
• Getting a haircut or changing your hairstyle can lead to infertility.;
• Stepping in the mud is a sign of trouble.;
• gossiping, revealing other people's secrets and your own — the day requires silence and inner concentration.

Folk signs of September 5th

On September 5, the first frosts were often observed in Russia, on this occasion the people said: "Lupp frost freezes the nose," "Lupensky frosts set on oats, sweetened with lingonberries." During the holiday, the peasants observed nature to determine what kind of weather is expected in the near future.:

• The first frosts portend early cold nights.;
• warm morning — warm weather remains until the end of September;
• cranes fly low to a mild winter, high to a frosty one;
• The peas are blooming — for a long, warm autumn;
• evening fog — to improve the weather.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions and prohibitions of the special national holiday Agafon Borage.